Let's face it. The Boston Celtics would more than likely still be stuck on 17 titles right now if it hadn't been for the Portland Trail Blazers. Everyone knows how big of an impact Jrue Holiday had on Banner 18, but what many forget is that without him beforehand, the Celtics had a gaping hole from trading Marcus Smart that they were miraculously able to fill with Holiday, thanks entirely to the Trail Blazers.
It may have been only a two-year window the Celtics took advantage of, but Boston didn't have to give up a whole lot for Holiday (with all due respect to Robert Williams III and Malcolm Brogdon), thus showing how big a favor Boston owed Portland when it was all said and done.
Well, last night proved how much the Celtics have repaid the Trail Blazers, as Holiday (and Williams) played a major role in the team clinching their first playoff berth since 2021.
To be fair, Portland also did Boston another favor last year by helping them save money by acquiring Holiday for Anfernee Simons. However, it has become clear who helped out the other more in that deal, and that was pretty evident from the jump, despite how impressive Simons was in his half-season with the Celtics.
Holiday may be an aging veteran, but he's played a hand in the Trail Blazers emerging into a two-way force in the NBA. While they still have plenty of talented players on their roster, his influence as a veteran gives them a steady presence that many young, talented teams have lacked in previous years, which would prevent them from turning their talent into more wins.
The Trail Blazers may not be title contenders, but they are on the right track now, and it would not have been that way had the Celtics not sent them Holiday last summer.
Boston has played a part in Portland having its best outlook in years
The Trail Blazers' rise with Holiday goes beyond his influence. Their playoff berth is also highly encouraging, as they managed to get as far as they have without Damian Lillard, whose return has been highly anticipated, despite his age and coming off an Achilles tear.
There's no telling how much of the old Dame Portland will see, but hey, if Jayson Tatum can look like his old self, who's to say Lillard can't do the same? Add the old Dame to this Trail Blazers squad, and they might be in for their best season since the peak of the Jail Blazers era.
Also, Boston has played a bigger role in Portland's rise than sending them Holiday. As it turns out, the first Holiday trade between Boston and Portland in 2023 indirectly led to the Deni Avdija trade, as the Trail Blazers traded Brogdon for their star the following summer.
It's unfair to say Boston owes Portland a ring because no one does, but Boston owed Portland the chance to become an exciting team again. It's not like their single-handedly responsible for how the Trail Blazers have become as good as they are, but it's fair to say that two-and-a-half years after the Celtics got Holiday, the two teams are square now.
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